Focusing on renewable energy

Grenada is taking a proactive approach to renewable energy as two Memoranda of Understanding have been signed with the governments of the Unite States and New Zealand.

Speaking at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Senator Simon Stiell said the MOU with the US State Department in Washington will be looking at the whole area of regulation legislation and financing and those renewable energies that will provide Grenada with the greatest benefit.

“As we all know, Grenada has suffered from having some of the highest electricity costs – somewhere in the region of 40 plus US cents a kilowatt. This government is committed to bringing down the cost of energy to every citizen, every business in Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique”, he told reporters.

According to Sen. Stiell, the near two-year old government of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell is committed to changing the legislation governing electricity use on the island

He spoke of the administration being prepared to work with the Eastern Caribbean Regulatory Authority (ECRA) and other Eastern Caribbean islands “to come up with a regulatory framework that introduces competition and provides an enabling environment … to help bring down the cost of energy”.

He said the agreement between Grenada and New Zealand will focus heavily on the exploration and exploitation of Grenada’s geo-thermal energy.

He disclosed that work has already started to establish a foundation in utilising the island’s renewable energy.

On the agreement signed with the United States, Sen. Stiell said that a Cabinet-appointed team has been put together involving Energy Minister, Gregory Bowen, Economic Development Minister Oliver Joseph, the Attorney General, and technical officers from the Division of Energy.

He said the local team will interface on the issue with the US State Department and their Department of Energy, as well as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and WRB Enterprises, the major shareholder in GRENLEC.

“…They will meet to start to put flesh on this Memorandum of Understanding and to start to operationalise the objectives of this Memorandum of Understanding which is the widespread deployment of renewable energy in Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique to bring down the cost of energy for all,” he added.